Standard Disclaimer Applies. New Soul rights go to Yael Naim.
Evolving Padfoot: New Soul
I'm a new soul, I came to this strange world hoping I could learn a bit about how to give and take.
Sirius stared at the countryside passing him by with vague disinterest. It wasn't as though he hadn't been on a locomotive or seen some sheep. What was with all of these other children going gaga over a few sheep? It wasn't even the younger students either!
Sirius huffed and plopped his chin into his hand, why did purebloods have to take the train? Floo or portkey was so much easier and took a quarter of the time it took to ride this old heap of junk. Sirius knew the Reggie would like the train though; Reggie liked trains. Sirius hated trains; he preferred flying any day.
Thinking about Reggie hurt. Sirius missed his little brother to a degree that was, quite possibly, stupid. The little boy had burst into tears when Sirius had gotten his letter, knowing that Sirius wouldn't be around as much anymore. Sirius hadn't wanted to make his Reggie cry, but he wanted to go to Hogwarts. After all the stories his father and Uncle Alphard had told him, how could he not go? How could he give up the opportunity to drive the teachers insane and be better than all the other first years in his class?
Sirius snapped out of his thoughts as the compartment door slid open and a head got stuck around the door. The boy grinned at Sirius, "Mind if I sit here, it's a madhouse out there?"
Sirius thought about it, he didn't really want this boy sitting with him, but did he really want to spend seven hours by himself? The answer was no, "Sure."
The boy plopped himself onto the red seat and grinned again. How could he stand to smile so much, didn't it begin to hurt after awhile?
"I'm James Potter." said the boy, sticking his hand out.
"Sirius Black, charmed I'm sure." Sirius shook the hand slowly. The Potter's weren't so bad, pureblooded at the very most.
"Black, huh? Aren't we cousins or something?"
"Probably, but with all the in-breeding who isn't related?"
James laughed, "Good point. So what house do you…never mind."
Sirius smirked; he could see why James had stopped. It was obvious by now wasn't it? All Blacks were Slytherins; other houses just weren't done. Although, thought Sirius, it might be nice to be unique for a change.
"Well, I want to be a Gryffindor. My mum was one and my grandfather. I think it would be fascinating."
"Hmmm," Sirius gave a noncommittal answer, why did everyone feel the need to defend their choices to him. Their lives were their own; they could screw them up in whatever way made them happiest.
"So…do you have any siblings?"
"A brother. He'll be here next year." Sirius brightened at the thought of having his little brother closer to him. He didn't like the distance between them, how was Sirius supposed to take care of Reggie if he was in London and Sirius was in Scotland?
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Sirius stared at the red canopy in shock. He still couldn't believe it; him…a Gryffindor? It was impossible! It was obscene! He was Sirius Black for Merlin's sake! Blacks were not placed in any house other than Slytherin. It just wasn't done.
Although, Sirius mused, maybe this was his chance! The chance to prove that he was the best Black to roam these ancient halls. Yes, that would do very nicely; he would simply be the best of them all. He would prove himself, no matter the personal cost. It wouldn't be so bad, he thought sleepily, after all James wasn't so bad. He had even pulled a prank with Sirius. Maybe he would want to friends on a more permanent basis? Sirius would have to cure James of the feeling bad thing, however. James had wanted to apologize to the tiny boy they had dumped pumpkin juice all over. Sirius had objected vehemently. One did not rank a person and then apologize! Even if said person was adorable. Especially if it looked as though they were going to cry. And furthermore, one did not apologize to a dorm mate.
Sirius fell asleep looking up at the red canopy, a smile planted firmly on his face. Yes, things would turn out nicely.
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The moment Sirius stepped into the Great Hall for breakfast he knew something was going to happen. The air was tense with excitement. But, it only came from the Slytherin table. What was going on, Sirius wondered as he sat next to James, who was still chattering.
Sirius nodded at the appropriate moments in James's monologue, but stared at the table across from him. He wanted to know what was going on the moment it started. He snapped his attention back to the plate in front of him as Narcissa sneered at him. Well, hell, he thought, who put Flobberworms in her breakfast?
The slight decrease in his attention caused him to look up in shock when cheers and hushed whispers swept through the hall. He looked around curiously when James's hand squeezed his arm tightly.
"What?"
James pointed to the owls that were now flocking throughout the hall. Sirius couldn't see anything wrong, what was James so freaked out about? Then he saw it. The bright red envelope clutched in Diemos's talons. The bird swooped down to where Sirius sat, dropped the envelope on the table, and took off once more. Sirius felt the color in his face fade like well-worn trousers. Now he knew what the Slytherins were so excited about. His mother had sent him a howler.
Sirius gently flicked the tab open and tried to tune out his mother's horrendous shrieks.
"SIRIUS ORION BLACK! HOW DARE YOU BRING SUCH SHAME UPON THE MOST ANCIENT AND NOBLE HOUSE OF BLACK! I AM ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED WITH YOU! YOU ARE SUCH A DISGRACE!"
"YOUR GRANDPARENTS ARE ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIED! YOUR FATHER AND I… WE…I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO YOU ANYMORE! DON'T BOTHER COMING HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS! YOU'D JUST BETTER BE GLAD YOUR BROTHER IS ON THE RIGHT PATH AS THAT'S THE ONLY THING SAVING YOUR LOUSY ASS!"
Sirius glanced around the hall nervously; that had been worse than he had expected. The Slytherins were too busy laughing and the Hufflepuffs looked at him with sorrow filled eyes. The Ravenclaws had gone back to their studies now that the show was over. James looked as though he wanted to say something, but Sirius wouldn't let him. He got up, flung his pack over his shoulder and left for Transfiguration.
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Sirius picked irritably at the yellow feathers that still adorned his skin. Why would they not come off? This was exasperating! Sirius pulled one off of his wrist and sighed when it stuck to his finger. He shook his hand violently, grinning in satisfaction as the feather leapt off his hand…only to have the smile fall off when the abused feather landed on the tip of his nose. Sirius's eyes crossed as he glared at the offending feather. He huffed and stomped his foot. He gave a harsh shake and grinned again when it looked as though the feather was heading to Earth.
Sirius headed back into the dorm, humming happily. He flopped face down onto the bed; content to just lay there. He started sharply when a thinly boned hand ran itself through his hair. Remus jumped backwards as the piercing grey eyes stared at him in shock.
"Um, there was something in your hair." Remus opened his hand to reveal the battered yellow feather. Sirius stared at the thing, bemused he reached over to pick the feather up off of Remus's hand, ignoring the boy's stuttering.
"You're a lot cuter when you're quiet." Sirius muttered absent mindedly, twirling the feather between his fingers.
There was silence for a moment, then flurried footsteps and a closing door. Sirius glanced up in shock. He hadn't meant for Remus to leave! Funny though, Sirius told Reggie to be quiet and the boy did it without complaint. Remus was really very odd, even if he came up with pranks that stuck with you for weeks on end. It had been a month and Sirius was still finding feathers! He didn't know how Remus was doing it, Sirius showered like everyone else, so why was he still finding feathers?!
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Minerva McGonagall was no fool. In fact, she prided herself on being on of the more, ahem, competent professors. Therefore, when the stone beneath her feet began to tremble, she knew who had to be behind it. She rubbed her brow and muttered a small oath. She then moved towards the ground floor to deal with whatever mess Sirius Black had gotten himself into.
Imagine her shock when she found the culprit of said shaking was not Black, but Lupin…studious, sweet, shy little Remus Lupin. He was standing between an amazed Potter and a very proud looking Black.
Minerva McGonagall was no fool. So she knew exactly who to blame for this, "Sirius Black! How DARE you!"
Sirius spluttered incoherently about it not being his fault, but Minerva knew better.
"How dare you corrupt this poor boy with your tomfoolery!" she dragged Remus close to her, aiming to get him away from the bad examples before her. Remus's face began to flush, realizing that the professor thought that he had been corrupted.
"But professor, we didn't…it was his…"
"Do not 'but professor' me, Mr. Potter! You cannot mean to tell me that you had nothing to do with this!"
"Professor McGonagall, James is right. I came up with this by myself, they had nothing to do with it."
That night Sirius got to write home to his Uncle Alphard that he had experienced something no one else had. Alphard read the letter six times before he laughed and laughed. Who knew that a tiny little boy by the name of Remus Lupin had managed to capture the heart of a Black, simply by making Minerva McGonagall pass out from shock.
A/N: There! Sorry this took so long. My brain was fried! Hope you liked it. Remember, reviews make me happy!
I am so terribly sorry that this is so late! I realize I wrote this above but I'm doing it again. I am actually wincing as I type this because I burnt my index fingertip this afternoon and it is very painful. So I hope that you all really really liked it.